N25 - Waterford City Bypass

fricatus

wellbutty wrote: »

4c...sign warning of the approaching junction (shown on the map in blue)

Odd that Waterford is signed straight on, and then also signed - albeit as "Waterford (south)" - in the white panel.

That's coming from Kilmeaden, approaching the new western link (i.e. the turn-off for Harvey Norman and TK Maxx), right?

I would have thought that was the main exit for all parts of Waterford except Ferrybank?

Great pics though... looking forward to taking a spin on it on Tuesday

wellbutty

fricatus wrote: »

Odd that Waterford is signed straight on, and then also signed - albeit as "Waterford (south)" - in the white panel.

That's coming from Kilmeaden, approaching the new western link (i.e. the turn-off for Harvey Norman and TK Maxx), right?

I would have thought that was the main exit for all parts of Waterford except Ferrybank?

Great pics though... looking forward to taking a spin on it on Tuesday

Yeah you've got the right location for the sign fricatus, I think it should be exactly as you called it....is it a sneaky plot to get visitors across the toll bridge?! And then make them cross Rice Bridge to the Quay for a parking space?

johnbk

I can’t believe that sign, its so cynical. Nice pictures. Great to see the pictures.

wellbutty

You'd expect the sign to indicate Rosslare, Dublin, Kilkenny and Limerick are all straight ahead and then Waterford City, Tramore, Airport, Hospital and W.I.T. to the left. Or just have "All Major Routes" or "All Other Routes" as straight ahead.

fricatus

wellbutty wrote: »

You'd expect the sign to indicate Rosslare, Dublin, Kilkenny and Limerick are all straight ahead and then Waterford City, Tramore, Airport, Hospital and W.I.T. to the left. Or just have "All Major Routes" or "All Other Routes" as straight ahead.

I was just about to say exactly that... Dublin and Limerick at the very least, in addition to Rosslare.

Maybe related, maybe slightly off-topic? ...but I note that Waterford County Council seems to have an obsession with Rosslare. Down near Lemybrien and Dungarvan there are signs that say N25 Rosslare and don't even mention the city... WTF???

mike65

wellbutty wrote: »

it a sneaky plot to get visitors across the toll bridge?! And then make them cross Rice Bridge to the Quay for a parking space?

The word TOLL might put them off. That said the signage is as poor as one expects.

nordydan

Great pics, 3c in particular. You should enter it for SABRE Photo of the month.

BTW this screams motorway to me, no excuses

serfboard

nordydan wrote: »

BTW this screams motorway to me, no excuses

Agree.

fricatus

nordydan wrote: »

BTW this screams motorway to me, no excuses

Mos def... I still don't get the NRA's excuse about "short isolated stretches" or whatever it was. The M11 near Bray was such a stretch for many years, and north of the border, the one around Ballymena (forget the number) is still one such stretch.

Maybe any future redesignation might provide us with an opportunity to improve the signage. It really appears to be woeful (although of course the road itself - and in particular the bridge - appear to be really something).

stephenc1979

I reckon the reason for diverting traffic over the toll bridge is to alleviate the BandQ route, the flyover over the bypass is very narrow and to me could be a bit of a bottle neck.... I also heard today that a bridge walk WILL go ahead on Sunday... Cullen does his monday offical opening and then it'll be open tues morning...

Bards

stephenc1979 wrote: »

I reckon the reason for diverting traffic over the toll bridge is to alleviate the BandQ route, the flyover over the bypass is very narrow and to me could be a bit of a bottle neck.... I also heard today that a bridge walk WILL go ahead on Sunday... Cullen does his monday offical opening and then it'll be open tues morning...

over in the Waterford City Forum - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055709478 , they're discussing a walk on Monday afternoon with buses ferrying passengers from the clock tower to the bridge. This would make sense as there will aparantly be a safety audit taking place

Edit:

Source

http://www.waterfordcity.ie/n25bypass/news.htm

Road-Hog

Bards wrote: »

over in the Waterford City Forum - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055709478 , they're discussing a walk on Monday afternoon with buses ferrying passengers from the clock tower to the bridge. This would make sense as there will aparantly be a safety audit taking place

Edit:

Source

http://www.waterfordcity.ie/n25bypass/news.htm

Don't know where you are getting this safety audit thing from Bards, from my good source the 'road safety audits' took place last week.....!

Tech3

nordydan wrote: »

BTW this screams motorway to me, no excuses

Same goes for the N7 tunnel, these HQDC's should be have been redesignated in the second tranche.

Amtmann

Bards's source says the bypass will open to traffic on Monday afternoon, not Tuesday.

Sully

Furet wrote: »

Bards's source says the bypass will open to traffic on Monday afternoon, not Tuesday.

Iv been told its Tuesday but thats wrong also. The website says Monday. Funny awl world.

Irish and Proud

wellbutty wrote: »

I managed to get out around the bypass today for a look, it's hard to imagine that after all the frustrating years of planning and promises that it's almost open. It's also unbelievable the number of people working on all parts of the site, redoing sections of concrete, cleaning, putting up signs, backfilling, landscaping etc

Because of this, it was impossible to get onto the road but I did get a few photos.

Map...self explanatory...the numbers correspond to the photo names below.
1a - 1d......Whelan's Bridge, all looking towards the new Suir bridge

Nice work mate!

Image 3c is pretty stunning alright - the road is looking good! Whelan's Bridge looks very interesting - it parallels the way many of our bridges are built today, but more importantly, it also parallels the way in which large fly-overs are constructed in the US - I like that!

Regards!

dougal

My favourite picture of the future that was in one of the threads here.

90% of this will be ready to go next Monday.

Enbee

dougal wrote: »

My favourite picture of the future that was in one of the threads here.

90% of this will be ready to go next Monday.

Spoilt, however, by the sight of that absurdly mangled mess of roundabouts. It's not like it was that much more complicated than the N4-M50 interchange.

I look forward to a more impressive vista when it's rebuilt properly in 20 years!!

dougal

Enbee wrote: »

Spoilt, however, by the sight of that absurdly mangled mess of roundabouts. It's not like it was that much more complicated than the N4-M50 interchange.

I look forward to a more impressive vista when it's rebuilt properly in 20 years!!

True but it is still a big improvement on what is there currently!

wellbutty

Enbee wrote: »

Spoilt, however, by the sight of that absurdly mangled mess of roundabouts. It's not like it was that much more complicated than the N4-M50 interchange.

I look forward to a more impressive vista when it's rebuilt properly in 20 years!!

If you're coming towards this M9/N24 roundabout along the single-carriageway N24, you obviously have to give way to the right...which will be all the Dublin-bound traffic coming from Waterford. This is where I think problems will occur. I think the M9 traffic entering this roundabout will be ok because the N24 is at the opposite side of the roundabout. If and when the Mooncoin bypass is built and it fills the last slot on the roundabout, the whole junction will have to be redesigned.

This makes me wonder why they didn't built a proper junction when they had the greenfield site, which is considerably cheaper than upgrading the meeting place of 3 major roads...while they're in use!

We'll know a bit more next week

Mossy Monk

Does anyone know where exactly the toll booths are situated on the city bypass. Is it possible to go from Dungarvan to Waterford on the new road and not pay a toll?

wellbutty

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Does anyone know where exactly the toll booths are situated on the city bypass. Is it possible to go from Dungarvan to Waterford on the new road and not pay a toll?

The toll plaza is just before the Suir bridge, on the south side.

misswex

So its the toll just for people using the bridge?

wellbutty

misswex wrote: »

So its the toll just for people using the bridge?

Exactly...you can use the roads from Grannagh to Slieverue and from the Portlaw road to B&Q, toll-free

Daysha

Does anyone know if there's any slip road into the city between the Western Link to the ORR and the toll bridge?

fricatus

Daysha wrote: »

Does anyone know if there's any slip road into the city between the Western Link to the ORR and the toll bridge?

There isn't.

The bypass starts at the roundabout in Kilmeaden. The next exit is for the westlink (last one before the toll). After the toll plaza and the bridge, you've the Grannagh exit, and then after that, the end of the bypass is at the roundabout in Slieverue. Only 4 access points.

Coming the other way, as wellbutty said, you can use the section between Slieverue and Grannagh without paying the toll. For example, traffic between Rosslare and Limerick/Galway will now do so.

Still and all though, I'm sure there will be a need for an extra exit one of these days. The City Council have big plans for the area directly south of the toll plaza on wellbutty's map a few posts back. I think a link onto the bypass from there would be a good idea, to take pressure off local roads around Gracedieu, Bilberry and Carrickpherish. Give it 20 years!

wellbutty

fricatus wrote: »

There isn't.

Still and all though, I'm sure there will be a need for an extra exit one of these days. The City Council have big plans for the area directly south of the toll plaza on wellbutty's map a few posts back. I think a link onto the bypass from there would be a good idea, to take pressure off local roads around Gracedieu, Bilberry and Carrickpherish. Give it 20 years!

This is the biggest surprise to me on the scheme, the development of the Gracedieu area has been on the development plan for a good number of years. The bypass seems to have two "futureproof" structures on the south side, one overpass for the future WIT campus and one underpass for allowing WIT to develop their sports facilities on the river's edge. I would've thought one more structure near Gracedieu wouldn't have gone astray! To give you an idea of what's planned, take a look at the development plan at this link:

http://www.waterfordcity.ie/documents/developmentplan/WaterfordCityDevelopmentPlan2007Map.pdf

Amtmann

IRELAND’S LONGEST cable-stayed bridge, which spans the river Suir, will be open to pedestrians and sightseers three hours before access is allowed to motorised traffic on Monday.
The new bridge, which is similar in design but, at 465m, is 81m longer than the Boyne Bridge on the M1, is part of the Waterford city bypass, which has been developed at a cost of more than €500 million. It is opening 10 months ahead of schedule.
The bridge is a “distinctive and impressive structure”, according to the National Roads Authority, with “a light and elegant design complementing the river and the surrounding landscape”.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen and chairman of the National Roads Authority Peter Malone will officially open the bridge at 12.30pm on Monday. Invitees will be taken there by bus.
Following the ceremony, sightseers and pedestrians will be free to wander the length and breadth of the bridge, taking in views of Waterford city and the surrounding countryside, before motorised traffic is allowed across it from about 4.30pm.
The bridge is part of the 23km Waterford city toll-bypass. Charges for using the route are to be €1 for motorbikes, €1.90 for cars and €3.40 for buses and coaches. Goods vehicles pay a maximum of €6.10.
It is expected that 14,000 vehicles will use the route each day, reducing volumes in Waterford city by about 30 per cent and removing up to 12,000 vehicles a day from the city’s quays.
The new route begins at Kilmeadan to the west of the city and crosses the River Suir to tie in with the existing N25 route to Rosslare, Waterford and Cork to the east, at Slieverue village.
The bypass includes a new connection, known as the Western Link, to industrial areas to the southwest of Waterford city. It also links to the M9/N9 and N24 to the Grannagh Interchange.
The route is expected to cut 20 minutes off the journey on the N25 between Cork to the port of Rosslare, via Waterford city. The current N25 route passes along the congested city quays and crosses the River Suir over Rice Bridge.
During work on the scheme, a significant archaeological site was discovered at Woodstown. It was declared a national monument, which necessitated a revised alignment on a section of the route.
The Woodstown site appears to represent a defended riverside settlement, with associated industrial activity.
The artefacts and radiocarbon dating indicate the site likely dates back to the early medieval period, between the 9th and 12th centuries AD.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1017/1224256899421.html

Sully

Bridge looks great light up. They were working on it last night around midnight it seemed!

dugganm07

The lighting does look good, but I am a little disappointed, I was hoping they would light each of the cables individually like the lighting on the Boyne bridge which looks better.

Sully

Have pics we took from the roadside tonight - mine are crap so ill wait till Dan gets online tomorrow evening and he can post his, as they are better.

EDIT::
Best out of my very VERY bad bunch.






If you wish to put yourself through the horror of seeing more of the best out of the worst..
http://pix.ie/sully/album/357943

Sully

The street lights are somewhat odd - there bent over completely rather then straight and bending out on top.

Irish and Proud

Sully wrote: »

The street lights are somewhat odd - there bent over completely rather then straight and bending out on top.

If you mean the lights on the bridge, the ones on the Boyne bridge are similar in style - I guess the stem angle is to match the angle of the cables.

BTW, thanks for the pics - they give a good idea of what the bridge is like at night.

Regards!

stick-dan

Hi all, I'm the dan sully was on about, here's a few of mine.
http://pix.ie/danieljordan13

I em found these...

Amtmann

Can someone record the drive along the bypass tomorrow and youtube it?

Roryhy

Furet wrote: »

Can someone record the drive along the bypass tomorrow and youtube it?

It'll be getting dark before cars get a chance to drive it i think. Might have a better chance Tuesday.

fricatus

Article in today's Indo: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bridge-bypasses-troubled-waters-1917571.html

"Troubled waters" :rolleyes:

What do these clowns be smoking?

fricatus

At least the Irish Times reports it without useless, strained clichés... http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1019/breaking4.htm

fricatus

RTE: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1019/waterford.html

Amtmann

Just a big thanks to Bards, Sully, wellbutty, alpha2zulu, rameire, Munurty and Johnbk, as well as to everyone else who contributed to the updates to this thread over the past year. Cheers lads!

mike65

I can see that spot by Granny castle overlooking the river becoming a viewing gallery at night for a few weeks.

Bards

Press Release from http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,16797,en.html

N25 Waterford City Bypass Opens Ahead of Schedule
‘Congestion relief arrives early for the Viking City with the completion of the N25 Waterford Bypass.’


The N25 Waterford City Bypass was officially opened today (Monday 19th, October 2009) 10 months ahead of schedule by Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.


The scheme commences at Kilmeaden west of Waterford City, crosses the River Suir and ties in with the existing N25 (Rosslare to Cork route) east of Slieverue in Co. Kilkenny. One of the projects main features is the cable-stayed bridge crossing the River Suir at Grannagh.
The new Bypass will:

•Reduce traffic levels on the City’s quays by 30%
•Shave 20 minutes off peak journey- times on N25 Rosslare/Cork route
•Reduce cross City journey times
•Cater for 14,000 vehicles per day,10% of which it is estimated will be heavy goods vehicles
•Provide 23km dual carriageway standard road
•Allow traffic at the N24/N9 junction to the north west of Waterford City and N25 Cork–Rosslare to bypass the City
Speaking today at the official opening ceremony, Mr.Martin Cullen T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism said:

"This new gateway to Waterford heralds a new beginning for Waterford and for the South East. The new cable-stayed bridge and Waterford City Bypass together with the Waterford to Dublin Motorway will transform travel in the whole Region resulting in shorter journey times and safer road conditions. Upon opening, approximately 14,000 vehicles per day will use the Waterford Bypass. This will reduce traffic volumes currently using Rice Bridge, having the effect of removing some 10,000 to12, 000 vehicles per day from the city quays. This will have the added benefit of allowing us to rejuvenate our city along the quays to the maximum commercial advantage.”

Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority, said:

“Four decades of waiting are finally over and now the people of Waterford have the bypass they have been crying out for. It will breathe new life into the City residents and the Region as a whole, allowing business and industry to operate more efficiently. City dwellers, visitors and tourists will enjoy a more pleasant, healthier and safer environment. The new Suir Bridge at Grannagh is the longest cable- stayed bridge in the State and was built to complement its environment. It is an impressive structure and I am sure it will become a focal point for the people of Waterford. The early delivery of this Public Private Partnership scheme clearly demonstrates the benefits brought by the private sector in accelerating the delivery of the roads programme.”


The N25 Waterford City Bypass Scheme was funded through private finance raised by the PPP Co. (Celtic Roads Group) and through Government funding under the National Development Plan (NDP), 2007-2013.

The estimated cost of design, construction and operation of the bypass is in excess of half a billion euro. The Exchequer contribution was €255m in respect of land, planning & design, advance contracts, supervision, archaeology and construction grants.


Further scheme details:

•The new Suir Bridge is the State’s longest cable –stayed bridge ( 465m long with a span of 230m)
•The contractor was Celtic Roads Group (Waterford) Ltd. comprising BAM PPP bv, Iridium and NTR plc.
•The scheme forms part of the Government’s development strategy under Transport 21 for the Atlantic Road Corridor that stretches from Waterford to Donegal.
For further information contact:

Sean O’Neill 086 823 0600

Please click below to view the N25 Waterford City Bypass website.

http://www.waterfordcity.ie/n25bypass/project.html



N25 Waterford City Bypass List of Maximum Tolls Payable in 2009



The maximum toll charges applicable for the year ending 31st December 2009 inclusive of VAT (21.5%) and rounding to the nearest 10 cent are as follows:


Motorcycles (exceeding 50cc).

€1.00
Motor Cars

€1.90
Buses or Coaches

€3.40
Goods Vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kilograms

€3.40
Goods Vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms and having 2 or 3 axles

€4.80
Goods Vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms and having 4 or more axles

€6.10

VAT registered road users can reclaim VAT paid on tolls

Roryhy

Bards wrote: »

Press Release from http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,16797,en.html

N25 Waterford City Bypass Opens Ahead of Schedule
‘Congestion relief arrives early for the Viking City with the completion of the N25 Waterford Bypass.’


The N25 Waterford City Bypass was officially opened today (Monday 19th, October 2009) 10 months ahead of schedule by Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.


The scheme commences at Kilmeaden west of Waterford City, crosses the River Suir and ties in with the existing N25 (Rosslare to Cork route) east of Slieverue in Co. Kilkenny. One of the projects main features is the cable-stayed bridge crossing the River Suir at Grannagh.
The new Bypass will:

•Reduce traffic levels on the City’s quays by 30%
•Shave 20 minutes off peak journey- times on N25 Rosslare/Cork route
•Reduce cross City journey times
•Cater for 14,000 vehicles per day,10% of which it is estimated will be heavy goods vehicles
•Provide 23km dual carriageway standard road
•Allow traffic at the N24/N9 junction to the north west of Waterford City and N25 Cork–Rosslare to bypass the City
Speaking today at the official opening ceremony, Mr.Martin Cullen T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism said:

"This new gateway to Waterford heralds a new beginning for Waterford and for the South East. The new cable-stayed bridge and Waterford City Bypass together with the Waterford to Dublin Motorway will transform travel in the whole Region resulting in shorter journey times and safer road conditions. Upon opening, approximately 14,000 vehicles per day will use the Waterford Bypass. This will reduce traffic volumes currently using Rice Bridge, having the effect of removing some 10,000 to12, 000 vehicles per day from the city quays. This will have the added benefit of allowing us to rejuvenate our city along the quays to the maximum commercial advantage.”

Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority, said:

“Four decades of waiting are finally over and now the people of Waterford have the bypass they have been crying out for. It will breathe new life into the City residents and the Region as a whole, allowing business and industry to operate more efficiently. City dwellers, visitors and tourists will enjoy a more pleasant, healthier and safer environment. The new Suir Bridge at Grannagh is the longest cable- stayed bridge in the State and was built to complement its environment. It is an impressive structure and I am sure it will become a focal point for the people of Waterford. The early delivery of this Public Private Partnership scheme clearly demonstrates the benefits brought by the private sector in accelerating the delivery of the roads programme.”


The N25 Waterford City Bypass Scheme was funded through private finance raised by the PPP Co. (Celtic Roads Group) and through Government funding under the National Development Plan (NDP), 2007-2013.

The estimated cost of design, construction and operation of the bypass is in excess of half a billion euro. The Exchequer contribution was €255m in respect of land, planning & design, advance contracts, supervision, archaeology and construction grants.


Further scheme details:

•The new Suir Bridge is the State’s longest cable –stayed bridge ( 465m long with a span of 230m)
•The contractor was Celtic Roads Group (Waterford) Ltd. comprising BAM PPP bv, Iridium and NTR plc.
•The scheme forms part of the Government’s development strategy under Transport 21 for the Atlantic Road Corridor that stretches from Waterford to Donegal.
For further information contact:

Sean O’Neill 086 823 0600

Please click below to view the N25 Waterford City Bypass website.

http://www.waterfordcity.ie/n25bypass/project.html



N25 Waterford City Bypass List of Maximum Tolls Payable in 2009



The maximum toll charges applicable for the year ending 31st December 2009 inclusive of VAT (21.5%) and rounding to the nearest 10 cent are as follows:


Motorcycles (exceeding 50cc).

€1.00
Motor Cars

€1.90
Buses or Coaches

€3.40
Goods Vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kilograms

€3.40
Goods Vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms and having 2 or 3 axles

€4.80
Goods Vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms and having 4 or more axles

€6.10

VAT registered road users can reclaim VAT paid on tolls

Cars are only €1, thats a bargain!

Edit: someone changed the info above, cars are €1.90

mike65

Bards wrote: »

Press Release from
•Shave 20 minutes off peak journey- times on N25 Rosslare/Cork route

This makes me laugh for its underselling. 20 mins is the minimum saving bearing in mind you get a straight run (breif stop for toll) from the other side of Slievrue all the way past Kilmeaden. At 3 am you'd take 20 mins to do that journey via Waterford.

nordydan

http://www.waterfordcity.ie/n25bypass/files/N25-PromoBrouchure.pdf

Amtmann

Some of the pictures in that brochure look like munurty's.

nordydan

Furet wrote: »

Some of the pictures in that brochure look like munurty's.

Lol, maybe some of the schemes around the country are delayed (e.g Nenagh) because the relevant contractors are waiting for posters on boards.ie to take pictures for their brochures??

D'Peoples Voice

Furet wrote:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1017/1224256899421.html
The new bridge, which is similar in design but, at 465m, is 81m longer than the Boyne Bridge on the M1, ......

fricatus wrote: »

Article in today's Indo: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bridge-bypasses-troubled-waters-1917571.html

But the jewel of the project is the bridge over the River Suir, which is the longest in the State -- almost 200 metres longer than the Boyne bridge in Co Louth.

"Troubled waters" :rolleyes:

What do these clowns be smoking?

I know, what type of clowns built this bloody bridge, its expanding at an incredible pace, god help us when we hit a hot summer and the concrete really does begin to expand:eek:

Amtmann

Sporadic discussion on the bridge may be listened to here: http://www.wlrfm.com/portals/11/player/listen-live-player.html

Amtmann

Just listening to the News at 2 on WLR FM. Martin Cullen is clearly overjoyed (and painting himself as responsible for the motorway and bypass). Other speechmakers are thrilled too. Comparisons with the the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco are somewhat OTT though!